Prevascularized, Co-Culture Model for Breast Cancer Drug Development

ASME 2012 Summer Bioengineering Conference, Parts A and B ◽

10.1115/sbc2012-80409 ◽

2012 ◽

Author(s):

Lauren Marshall ◽

Isabel Löwstedt ◽

Paul Gatenholm ◽

Joel Berry

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Drug Development ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

Human Tumor ◽

3D Models ◽

Cancer Drug ◽

Cancer Therapies ◽

Anti Cancer

The objective of this study was to create 3D engineered tissue models to accelerate identification of safe and efficacious breast cancer drug therapies. It is expected that this platform will dramatically reduce the time and costs associated with development and regulatory approval of anti-cancer therapies, currently a multi-billion dollar endeavor [1]. Existing two-dimensional (2D) in vitro and in vivo animal studies required for identification of effective cancer therapies account for much of the high costs of anti-cancer medications and health insurance premiums borne by patients, many of whom cannot afford it. An emerging paradigm in pharmaceutical drug development is the use of three-dimensional (3D) cell/biomaterial models that will accurately screen novel therapeutic compounds, repurpose existing compounds and terminate ineffective ones. In particular, identification of effective chemotherapies for breast cancer are anticipated to occur more quickly in 3D in vitro models than 2D in vitro environments and in vivo animal models, neither of which accurately mimic natural human tumor environments [2]. Moreover, these 3D models can be multi-cellular and designed with extracellular matrix (ECM) function and mechanical properties similar to that of natural in vivo cancer environments [3].

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Three-Dimensional Vascularized Lung Cancer-on-a-Chip with Lung Extracellular Matrix Hydrogels for In Vitro Screening

Cancers ◽

10.3390/cancers13163930 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (16) ◽

pp. 3930

Author(s):

Sangun Park ◽

Tae Kim ◽

Soo Kim ◽

Seungkwon You ◽

Youngmee Jung

Keyword(s):

Lung Cancer ◽

Extracellular Matrix ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

A549 Cells ◽

Circulatory System ◽

Lung Fibroblasts ◽

Cancer Drug ◽

Cancer Therapies ◽

Anti Cancer

Recent advances in immunotherapies and molecularly targeted therapies have led to an increased interest in exploring the field of in vitro tumor mimetic platforms. An increasing need to understand the mechanisms of anti-cancer therapies has led to the development of natural tumor tissue-like in vitro platforms capable of simulating the tumor microenvironment. The incorporation of vascular structures into the in vitro platforms could be a crucial factor for functional investigation of most anti-cancer therapies, including immunotherapies, which are closely related to the circulatory system. Decellularized lung extracellular matrix (ldECM), comprised of ECM components and pro-angiogenic factors, can initiate vascularization and is ideal for mimicking the natural microenvironment. In this study, we used a ldECM-based hydrogel to develop a 3D vascularized lung cancer-on-a-chip (VLCC). We specifically encapsulated tri-cellular spheroids made from A549 cells, HUVECs, and human lung fibroblasts, for simulating solid type lung cancer. Additionally, two channels were incorporated in the hydrogel construct to mimic perfusable vessel structures that resemble arterioles or venules. Our study highlights how a more effective dose-dependent action of the anti-cancer drug Doxorubicin was observed using a VLCC over 2D screening. This observation confirmed the potential of the VLCC as a 3D in vitro drug screening tool.

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Development of Breast Cancer Spheroids to Evaluate Cytotoxic Response to an Anticancer Peptide

Pharmaceutics ◽

10.3390/pharmaceutics13111863 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (11) ◽

pp. 1863

Author(s):

Marco Cavaco ◽

Patrícia Fraga ◽

Javier Valle ◽

David Andreu ◽

Miguel A. R. B. Castanho ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Drug Development ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

3D Models ◽

Cell Permeabilization ◽

Anticancer Peptide ◽

Cell Monolayers ◽

Common Causes ◽

Cancer Spheroids

Breast cancer (BC) is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women and one of the most common causes of cancer-related deaths. Despite intense research efforts, BC treatment still remains challenging. Improved drug development strategies are needed for impactful benefit to patients. Current preclinical studies rely mostly on cell-based screenings, using two-dimensional (2D) cell monolayers that do not mimic in vivo tumors properly. Herein, we explored the development and characterization of three-dimensional (3D) models, named spheroids, of the most aggressive BC subtypes (triple-negative breast cancer-TNBC; and human-epidermal growth receptor-2-HER2+), using the liquid overlay technique with several selected cell lines. In these cell line-derived spheroids, we studied cell density, proliferation, ultrastructure, apoptosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and cell permeabilization (live/dead). The results showed a formation of compact and homogeneous spheroids on day 7 after seeding 2000 cells/well for MDA-MB-231 and 5000 cells/well for BT-20 and BT-474. Next, we compared the efficacy of a model anticancer peptide (ACP) in cell monolayers and spheroids. Overall, the results demonstrated spheroids to be less sensitive to treatment than cell monolayers, revealing the need for more robust models in drug development.

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Phycocyanin from Arthrospira platensis as Potential Anti-Cancer Drug: Review of In Vitro and In Vivo Studies

Life ◽

10.3390/life11020091 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 91

Author(s):

Steffen Braune ◽

Anne Krüger-Genge ◽

Sarah Kammerer ◽

Friedrich Jung ◽

Jan-Heiner Küpper

Keyword(s):

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Arthrospira Platensis ◽

Water Soluble ◽

In Vivo Studies ◽

Cancer Drug ◽

Cancer Therapies ◽

Natural Substances ◽

Anti Cancer

The application of cytostatic drugs or natural substances to inhibit cancer growth and progression is an important and evolving subject of cancer research. There has been a surge of interest in marine bioresources, particularly algae, as well as cyanobacteria and their bioactive ingredients. Dried biomass products of Arthrospira and Chlorella have been categorized as “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Of particular importance is an ingredient of Arthrospira: phycocyanin, a blue-red fluorescent, water-soluble and non-toxic biliprotein pigment. It is reported to be the main active ingredient of Arthrospira and was shown to have therapeutic properties, including anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, immune-modulatory and anti-cancer activities. In the present review, in vitro and in vivo data on the effects of phycocyanin on various tumor cells and on cells from healthy tissues are summarized. The existing knowledge of underlying molecular mechanisms, and strategies to improve the efficiency of potential phycocyanin-based anti-cancer therapies are discussed.

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Emerging Neuroblastoma 3D In Vitro Models for Pre-Clinical Assessments

Frontiers in Immunology ◽

10.3389/fimmu.2020.584214 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

Author(s):

Diana Corallo ◽

Stella Frabetti ◽

Olivia Candini ◽

Elisa Gregianin ◽

Massimo Dominici ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Three Dimensional ◽

Structural Complexity ◽

3D Cell Culture ◽

Cell Types ◽

In Vitro Models ◽

Cancer Therapies ◽

Extracellular Matrix Components ◽

Anti Cancer

The potential of tumor three-dimensional (3D) in vitro models for the validation of existing or novel anti-cancer therapies has been largely recognized. During the last decade, diverse in vitro 3D cell systems have been proposed as a bridging link between two-dimensional (2D) cell cultures and in vivo animal models, both considered gold standards in pre-clinical settings. The latest awareness about the power of tailored therapies and cell-based therapies in eradicating tumor cells raises the need for versatile 3D cell culture systems through which we might rapidly understand the specificity of promising anti-cancer approaches. Yet, a faithful reproduction of the complex tumor microenvironment is demanding as it implies a suitable organization of several cell types and extracellular matrix components. The proposed 3D tumor models discussed here are expected to offer the required structural complexity while also assuring cost-effectiveness during pre-selection of the most promising therapies. As neuroblastoma is an extremely heterogenous extracranial solid tumor, translation from 2D cultures into innovative 3D in vitro systems is particularly challenging. In recent years, the number of 3D in vitro models mimicking native neuroblastoma tumors has been rapidly increasing. However, in vitro platforms that efficiently sustain patient-derived tumor cell growth, thus allowing comprehensive drug discovery studies on tailored therapies, are still lacking. In this review, the latest neuroblastoma 3D in vitro models are presented and their applicability for a more accurate prediction of therapy outcomes is discussed.

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Advancements in 3D Cell Culture Systems for Personalizing Anti-Cancer Therapies

Frontiers in Oncology ◽

10.3389/fonc.2021.782766 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

Author(s):

Andrew M. K. Law ◽

Laura Rodriguez de la Fuente ◽

Thomas J. Grundy ◽

Guocheng Fang ◽

Fatima Valdes-Mora ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Tumor Microenvironment ◽

3D Culture ◽

3D Cell Culture ◽

Cancer Therapeutics ◽

Drug Efficacy ◽

Cancer Drug ◽

Cancer Therapies ◽

Anti Cancer

Over 90% of potential anti-cancer drug candidates results in translational failures in clinical trials. The main reason for this failure can be attributed to the non-accurate pre-clinical models that are being currently used for drug development and in personalised therapies. To ensure that the assessment of drug efficacy and their mechanism of action have clinical translatability, the complexity of the tumor microenvironment needs to be properly modelled. 3D culture models are emerging as a powerful research tool that recapitulates in vivo characteristics. Technological advancements in this field show promising application in improving drug discovery, pre-clinical validation, and precision medicine. In this review, we discuss the significance of the tumor microenvironment and its impact on therapy success, the current developments of 3D culture, and the opportunities that advancements that in vitro technologies can provide to improve cancer therapeutics.

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The Revolutionary Roads to Study Cell–Cell Interactions in 3D In Vitro Pancreatic Cancer Models

Cancers ◽

10.3390/cancers13040930 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (4) ◽

pp. 930

Author(s):

Donatella Delle Cave ◽

Riccardo Rizzo ◽

Bruno Sainz ◽

Giuseppe Gigli ◽

Loretta L. del Mercato ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pancreatic Cancer ◽

Therapeutic Response ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

Cellular Models ◽

Common Cancer ◽

Cancer Models ◽

Anti Cancer ◽

Tumor Environment

Pancreatic cancer, the fourth most common cancer worldwide, shows a highly unsuccessful therapeutic response. In the last 10 years, neither important advancements nor new therapeutic strategies have significantly impacted patient survival, highlighting the need to pursue new avenues for drug development discovery and design. Advanced cellular models, resembling as much as possible the original in vivo tumor environment, may be more successful in predicting the efficacy of future anti-cancer candidates in clinical trials. In this review, we discuss novel bioengineered platforms for anticancer drug discovery in pancreatic cancer, from traditional two-dimensional models to innovative three-dimensional ones.

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Delivery of melittin-loaded niosomes for breast cancer treatment: an in vitro and in vivo evaluation of anti-cancer effect

Cancer Nanotechnology ◽

10.1186/s12645-021-00085-9 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Farnaz Dabbagh Moghaddam ◽

Iman Akbarzadeh ◽

Ehsan Marzbankia ◽

Mahsa Farid ◽

Leila khaledi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Cancer Treatment ◽

Cell Lines ◽

Encapsulation Efficiency ◽

Inbred Mice ◽

Breast Cancer Treatment ◽

Anticancer Effect ◽

Anti Cancer

Abstract Background Melittin, a peptide component of honey bee venom, is an appealing candidate for cancer therapy. In the current study, melittin, melittin-loaded niosome, and empty niosome had been optimized and the anticancer effect assessed in vitro on 4T1 and SKBR3 breast cell lines and in vivo on BALB/C inbred mice. "Thin-layer hydration method" was used for preparing the niosomes; different niosomal formulations of melittin were prepared and characterized in terms of morphology, size, polydispersity index, encapsulation efficiency, release kinetics, and stability. A niosome was formulated and loaded with melittin as a promising drug carrier system for chemotherapy of the breast cancer cells. Hemolysis, apoptosis, cell cytotoxicity, invasion and migration of selected concentrations of melittin, and melittin-loaded niosome were evaluated on 4T1 and SKBR3 cells using hemolytic activity assay, flow cytometry, MTT assay, soft agar colony assay, and wound healing assay. Real-time PCR was used to determine the gene expression. 40 BALB/c inbred mice were used; then, the histopathology, P53 immunohistochemical assay and estimate of renal and liver enzyme activity for all groups had been done. Results This study showed melittin-loaded niosome is an excellent substitute in breast cancer treatment due to enhanced targeting, encapsulation efficiency, PDI, and release rate and shows a high anticancer effect on cell lines. The melittin-loaded niosome affects the genes expression by studied cells were higher than other samples; down-regulates the expression of Bcl2, MMP2, and MMP9 genes while they up-regulate the expression of Bax, Caspase3 and Caspase9 genes. They have also enhanced the apoptosis rate and inhibited cell migration, invasion in both cell lines compared to the melittin samples. Results of histopathology showed reduce mitosis index, invasion and pleomorphism in melittin-loaded niosome. Renal and hepatic biomarker activity did not significantly differ in melittin-loaded niosome and melittin compared to healthy control. In immunohistochemistry, P53 expression did not show a significant change in all groups. Conclusions Our study successfully declares that melittin-loaded niosome had more anti-cancer effects than free melittin. This project has demonstrated that niosomes are suitable vesicle carriers for melittin, compare to the free form.

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In Situ Vitrification of Lung Cancer Organoids on a Microwell Array

Micromachines ◽

10.3390/mi12060624 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (6) ◽

pp. 624

Author(s):

Qiang Liu ◽

Tian Zhao ◽

Xianning Wang ◽

Zhongyao Chen ◽

Yawei Hu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lung Cancer ◽

Drug Sensitivity ◽

Simple Procedure ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

Cancer Drug ◽

Microwell Array ◽

Sensitivity Tests ◽

Anti Cancer

Three-dimensional cultured patient-derived cancer organoids (PDOs) represent a powerful tool for anti-cancer drug development due to their similarity to the in vivo tumor tissues. However, the culture and manipulation of PDOs is more difficult than 2D cultured cell lines due to the presence of the culture matrix and the 3D feature of the organoids. In our other study, we established a method for lung cancer organoid (LCO)-based drug sensitivity tests on the superhydrophobic microwell array chip (SMAR-chip). Here, we describe a novel in situ cryopreservation technology on the SMAR-chip to preserve the viability of the organoids for future drug sensitivity tests. We compared two cryopreservation approaches (slow freezing and vitrification) and demonstrated that vitrification performed better at preserving the viability of LCOs. Next, we developed a simple procedure for in situ cryopreservation and thawing of the LCOs on the SMAR-chip. We proved that the on-chip cryopreserved organoids can be recovered successfully and, more importantly, showing similar responses to anti-cancer drugs as the unfrozen controls. This in situ vitrification technology eliminated the harvesting and centrifugation steps in conventional cryopreservation, making the whole freeze–thaw process easier to perform and the preserved LCOs ready to be used for the subsequent drug sensitivity test.

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The Role of Pre-Clinical 3-Dimensional Models of Osteosarcoma

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms21155499 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 21 (15) ◽

pp. 5499

Author(s):

Hannah L. Smith ◽

Stephen A. Beers ◽

Juliet C. Gray ◽

Janos M. Kanczler

Keyword(s):

Three Dimensional ◽

Chorioallantoic Membrane ◽

3D Models ◽

In Ovo ◽

Future Directions ◽

3 Dimensional ◽

In Vivo Animal Models

Treatment for osteosarcoma (OS) has been largely unchanged for several decades, with typical therapies being a mixture of chemotherapy and surgery. Although therapeutic targets and products against cancer are being continually developed, only a limited number have proved therapeutically active in OS. Thus, the understanding of the OS microenvironment and its interactions are becoming more important in developing new therapies. Three-dimensional (3D) models are important tools in increasing our understanding of complex mechanisms and interactions, such as in OS. In this review, in vivo animal models, in vitro 3D models and in ovo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) models, are evaluated and discussed as to their contribution in understanding the progressive nature of OS, and cancer research. We aim to provide insight and prospective future directions into the potential translation of 3D models in OS.

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